ABSTRACT.We assessed the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ERCC1 and ERCC2 genes in the clinical outcomes for osteosarcoma patients receiving cisplatin-based treatment. A perspective study was conducted on 260 patients with osteosarcoma during 2010 and 2011. A polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay was used to assess the ERCC1 rs11615 and rs3212986, and the ERCC2 rs1799793 and rs13181 gene polymorphisms. After adjustment for clinical variables, we found that the CC genotype of ERCC1 rs11615 was significantly associated with better response to chemotherapy (OR = 2.87, 95%CI = 1.24-6.97). Our study found that those carrying the CC genotype of ERCC1 rs11615 had a longer overall survival compared with the TT genotype, and the OR (95%CI) was 0.35 (0.12-0.92). In conclusion, our results suggest 11236 Q. Zhang et al. ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (3): 11235-11241 (2015) that the ERCC1 rs11615 polymorphism might influence the response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy and affect the clinical outcome for osteosarcoma patients.

ABSTRACT. Breast cancer is the most common gynecologic tumor globally that threatens women's health. Lipoic acid is a type of antioxidant that can alleviate oxidative stress damage. Studies showed that lipoic acid could inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells in cervical cancer and colon cancer. This paper intends to explore the combined effect of lipoic acid and paclitaxel on breast cancer cells. Breast cancer MCF-7 cells were divided into four groups: control group, lipoic acid group, paclitaxel group, and a combination group. MTT was applied to detect the drugs' influence on breast cancer cell proliferation. A colony formation test was used to determine the effects on breast cancer cell clone formation rate. Western blot was performed to detect the effects on nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Lipoic acid alone can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and clone formation with time dependence. Compared with the control, paclitaxel alone can significantly suppress tumor cell proliferation and clone formation (P < 0.05). Lipoic acid and paclitaxel in combination obviously strengthened their individual inhibitory effects on tumor cells (P < 0.05). Compared with 17935 Lipoic acid combined with paclitaxel on breast cancer ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (4): 17934-17940 (2015) the paclitaxel alone group, the combination group exhibited more remarkable inhibitory effect (P < 0.05). Lipoic acid alone or combined with paclitaxel can inhibit NF-κB expression and inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disease of the nervous system and is the most common acute polyneuropathy. Both cellular and humoral immunity are believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of GBS, and various types of activated CD4+ T cells are thought to orchestrate the onset and progression of GBS. Lymphoplasma exchange (LPE) filtering out activated lymphocytes while exchanging plasma has been used for GBS treatment for years. However the treatment is still not yet optimal. In order to assess the efficacy of this treatment, we evaluate the effect of LPE and determine the appropriate frequency of LPE treatments for GBS patients through comparing the neurological deficit scores and the changes in related immunology indicators of GBS patients before and after LPE treatment. Twenty-four patients with GBS who received LPE were evaluated for immunologic indicants before treatment, on the second day, and the fourth day after the treatment. The immunoglobulin complement and CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets were tested by flow cytometry. The patients' Medical Research Council sum scores were increased from 25.7±10.4 up to. 36.7±10.4 (P=0.019) and their Hughes scores decreased from 3.7±0.76 to 3.1±0.73 (P=0.027) at 7 days after LPE. In the peripheral blood from patients received LPE treatment, the levels of immunoglobulin, complement, monocytes and fibrinogen were significantly reduced. The percentages of Th1 and Th17 cells in the CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets were significantly decreased, whereas the Th2 and Treg cells were increased in patients after treatment. The changes in CD4+T lymphocyte subsets were correlated with patient MRC score changes. Our data indicate that LPE is effective in treating GBS patients by directly removing immunoglobulin, complement, monocytes, and fibrinogen as well as regulating lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood.

ABSTRACT. We investigated the expression of S-phase kinaseassociated protein 2 (SKP2) in breast cancer tissues, and the effects of SKP2-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference on breast cancer cell proliferation. Thirty subjects provided breast cancer tissue samples and 18 subjects provided normal breast specimens for this study. The expression of SKP2 in breast cancer patient tissues and normal breast tissues was detected by western blotting analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. SKP2-specific siRNA was used to decrease SKP2 expression in breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to detect cell proliferation. SKP2 expression in breast cancer tissues was significantly higher than in normal breast tissues (P < 0.05). Two pairs of siRNA specific to SKP2 were required to downregulate SKP2 expression in the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. The MTT assay showed that MDA-MB-231 growth significantly slowed after SKP2 interference. Patients with breast cancer have an increased 9245 SKP2 expression and breast cancer cell proliferation ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (3): 9244-9252 (2015) SKP2 level. Interference in SKP2 gene expression can inhibit breast cancer cell growth, suggesting that SKP2 is potentially a new target for breast cancer therapy.

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